Research Into Conventions| Fashion Magazines

As you can see from looking at these images, I would say that quite girly, yet still simplistic colours are used within the front covers. Particularly, the use of the colours pink and red are apparent which could help to appeal to the target audience. Also, monochrome colours have been used in these magazines which helps to make the product look a lot more professional and readable. Although I plan on using a very simple and monochrome colour scheme, from looking at these images I think I will add some pastel cool toned colours to follow the conventions of other regional fashion magazines. This is also means that I am challenging the usual conventions by making my magazine not as similar as the other ones out there on the market at the moment.

Another main convention is that designers and top-models will appear on the front cover. When it comes to fashion magazines, female models are to be typically found on the front cover rather than men. More commonly, fashion magazines offer the reader interviews on celebrities, making them the centre and primary selling point of the magazine. 

Inspirational Texts

To help give some inspiration to my own magazine, I have looked at a range of different popular fashion magazines. This will help me to get some ideas on the layout of the magazine should look, how the images are presented and how the product is over all sold. 

As I am planning on doing a fashion magazine for my coursework, I have looked at magazines such as Vogue, Elle, Glamour & Harper's Bazaar.

Elle and Bazaar both have very similar mastheads, they are quite simplistic yet still manage to stand out which is how I would like my own masthead to be like. Each picture of the magazine below focuses on the main image and that is what you are first drawn to, the layout is very chic and that is the kind of style I would like my own magazine to look like.

Action Plan

This is the action plan for my A2 Coursework; This plan will help me to meet deadlines and make sure that I have all my work completed for the dates it needs to be finished.

• September 30th- Research and Planning completed on blog
• October 10th- Photography location, costume/makeup/hair planned
• October half term- Photographs must be taken 
• End of October- Photographs must be edited
• December 7th- Magazine work finished
• Christmas holidays- First ancillary task finished
• Start of January/First week back to college- Second ancillary task finished
• February half term- Evaluation finished

Grading A2 Coursework

As part of our research and planning, during a lesson we were able to look at past students work, analyse it and then give it a grade we thought would be suitable. 

I found this task very useful as it gave me an idea of what sort of work would need to be produced and how other students decided to create their magazines. By doing this I was able to understand the task a lot better as I knew how my magazine should be presented and what would have to be included in order for it to come out with the best grade possible. 

Initial Plan

This is my initial plan which I have created for my Regional Magazine, showing the brief and which two ancillary tasks I have chosen to do along with it. I have also mentioned the genre of my magazine and stated who the target audience of my magazine is. I have chosen to go for the magazine being aimed at mainly for young adults, but it would be suitable for older people who may take a interest in reading it.

A2 Moodboard

As part of my research and planning, I had to create a mood board which showed some of the inspirtations of photographs, makeup, costumes etc for my magazine.  

I have decided to base my product around other well know fashion and lifestyle magazines such as Vogue and Elle, this is because I often read these magazines myself and they always look professional, which is how I would like my final product to be.

I have used pictures of models such as Barbara Palvin and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley to show how I would like my own models to be presented and the looks that I would like to be achieved.

I have decided to use monochrome and cool toned colours as this is what I think will look best to suit the layout of my magazine in order for it to come out looking chic and classy.